Lubricator



(No Model.)

J. R. HODGES & W. M. DAVIE.

LUBRIGATOR. No. 381,375. Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

772%? eases: Q fflwzwrc I UNiTnn STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN R. HODGES AND WILLIAM M. DAVIE, OF PORTAGE, VVISOONSIN.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,375, dated April17, 1888. Application filed January 12, 1886. Serial No. 188,284. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may COILCGWZ:

Be it known that we, JOHN R. Ilonons and \VILLIAM M. DAVIE, of Portage,in the county of Columbia and State of XVisconsin, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Lubricators; and we do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to the class of lubricators employed in connectionwith steam-cylinders; and it consists of certain novel improvements,hereinafter dcscrihcd,which have for their object, first, toautomatically feed oil or any like suitable lubricant to steam chests orcylinders under pressure, and, second, to obviatethenecessityofshuttingoffstea-ni when the lubricator is filled.

In the accompanying drawings like letters refer to the same parts inboth figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical medial section of our improved device, and Fig. 2is a side elevation of the upper portion of the receptacle and of thefillingcover.

A represents the oil-receptacle, which may be globular in form, asshown, or of any other convenient shape. It is provided at the base withan externally-screw-threaded plug, H, by means of which the lubricatoris attached to the steamcylinder or its connections. A tube, B,is'attached to the bottom of said receptacle A, and rises therein to apoint near the top, where it is squared to receive a wrench, by means ofwhich said tube is turned, the rim d, hereinafter described, raised orlowered, and the passages I) opened or closed, as desired. A continuouspassage, 0, is formed through the plug H and tube B, and communicates atthe top of said tube with receptacle A through a very fine aperture, a,which must be about three one-hundred-andtwentyeighths -3,, of an inchin diameter to produce the desired result or operate successfully.

The tube B is preferably formed separate from the receptacle A, andscrew-threaded at the base, and provided with avalvular disk or rim, (1,fitted to a seat formed at the base of said receptacle. Just below therim (1 of said tube B a small passage or passages, 1), communicate fromthe outside of said tube with the passage 0.

The neck or upper part of the receptacle A is externally threaded toreceive and engage with the internallythreaded base of cap or cover D,which is provided with a stopper, E. The cover 1) is of globular formand provided with large opening or openings at the sides for the purposeoffilling the lubricator. It is also centrally and vertically tapped toreceive the screw-threaded stem G of stopper E, which is swiveled bymeans of a small cylindrical shank in a socket formed in the lower endof said stem. Ascrew,e, passing through and threaded in stem G, engageswith an annular groove formed in the shank of stopper E, and retains ittherein, and at the same time permits said stem to turn freely aboutsaid stopper when the latter is seated in the opening into receptacle A.

By means of a milled head, F, applied to the upper end of stem G, thestopperE is operated. The wall of receptacle A is tapped near its baseto receive the cock 0, by means of which the water collecting in saidreceptacle is from time to time drawn off for the purpose of refillingthe lubricator.

Our improved device operates as follows: Having been first properlyattached to the steam-cylinder or. any convenient connection thereof bymeans of the threaded plug H, the receptacle A is filled with oil andthe stopper E seated to close the opening into said receptacle. Steam,being admitted into the cylinder, enters passage 0 and is admittedthrough the fine aperture a into receptacle A, where it condenses,settles, and displaces the oil at the bottom of said receptacle. The oilis thereby raised above the aperture a and descends by its specificgravity through the same and passage 0 into the steam-cylinder. Torefill the lubricator, the condensed steam or water in receptacle A isdrawn off through cock 0, the stopperE raised by turningthe threadedstem G in the proper direction, and oil is supplied through the openingat the top of said receptacle. The steam may be shut ofi from thecylinder during the operation of filling, if desired, although it is notnecessary, since the ICC fine jet of steam admitted through the smallaperture a is not sufficient to interfere with said operation.

When steam is cut off from the cylinder, the water collecting in thebottom of reeeptacleby the condensation of steam therein may bedischarged directly into theeylinder and a copious supply of oiladmitted thereto by unscrewing the tube B sufficiently to expose theopening 7) into passage 0, although when it is desired simply to drawofi' the water of condensation for refilling the lubricator the cock 0is moreconveniently employed.

The details of ourinvention may be variously modified without departurefrom its spirit.

We are well aware that United States Letters Patent have been grantedfor lubricators having a central feeding-tube with a contracted apertureat its upper end, through which the lubricant is designed to be fed byagitation and gravitation, no provision being made for feeding thelubricant to the bearing by the admission of steam into theoil-receptacle. We are also aware that Letters Patent have been grantedfor lubricators having a central feeding-tube and valve forclosing andregulating the size of the opening into said tube, and a cock fordrawing off the water of condensation by which the lubricant isdisplaced in the lubricator and fed to the bearing; but the lastnameddevice requires a valve which must be closed when the lubricator isfilled, involving not only greater complication and expense in themanufacture of the lnbricator, but also the danger of being burned bythe escaping steam when the cover is removed or the stopper openedforthe purpose of refilling the lubricator, since the valve controlling thefeedingpassage is liable to 'be inadvertently left open.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent. is-

l. The combination, in a lubricator, of the oil-receptacle A, the openside cover, D, and screw stem provided at its lower end with stop-valveE, loosely supportedby the screw 6, all arranged as shown, and for thepurpose specified.

2. The combination, in a lubricator, of an oil -receptacle and aninternal feedingtube V provided with a rim secured by screw-threads inthe base of said receptacle, and having an upright feedingpassagethrough said tube and receptacle, and a lateral passage leading out fromsaid feeding-passage below said rim and arranged to open into saidreceptacle when said tube is raised, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth. 7

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. HODGES. WVILLIAM M. DAVIE.

Witnesses:

JAMES B. TAYLOR, FRED. D. ARNOLD:

